Penance is knowing how to reconcile your duties to God, to others and to yourself, by making demands on yourself so that you find enough time for each of your tasks. You are practising penance when you lovingly keep to your schedule of prayer, despite feeling worn out, listless or cold.

St. JoseMaria Escriva: Friends of God 

Oh, I know that feeling worn out, listless or cold!

Prayer is often a struggle ~ and is too often the one thing that we leave out when time’s demands press in about us. Why is it, that when busy and stressed about ife, we leave out the one thing which can offer us succour and help? It is as if we are programmed to make life as hard as possible for ourselves! Which, let’s face it, we are, as sinful and fallen beings…

But it is a penance of value more than any other. We can only ever gain from speaking with God, our Heavenly Father, we can never lose. St. JoseMaria talks of making demands on ourselves, and it is a helpful and encouraging thought. We must demand of ourselves more than we would ordinarily wish to give. An easy life is not always a fruitful or a blessed life. I am beginnng to see that a life of prayer isn’t an easy life, and often feels like a penance. How I often wish to just fall into bed and lose myself in sleep, thinking that a cursory “good night God” is all that’s required from me. The busy demands of a household often leave me weary at the end of a day, and this is a constant temptation.

But there is nothing which supports and enlivens us more than time spent on ones knees ~ and the knees is an important bit. When we pray, we are coming before the God of holiness, in Whose presence we are not worthy to stand. By kneeling, we are making that heart-statement that we are nothing in the sight of His greatness, and yet still He chooses to stoop down and touch us, as St. Therese said. How can we not bend the knee is awe at such all-surpassing and underserved love?

If you do nothing else today ~ bend your knees before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!